constant

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See also: Constant

English

Etymology

From Middle English constant, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old French constant, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Latin constantem, accusative of constans, from constare (“to stand firm”).

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈkɒnstənt/
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 360: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "US" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈkɑnstənt/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Adjective

constant (comparative more constant, superlative most constant)

  1. Unchanged through time or space; permanent.
  2. Consistently recurring over time; persistent.
    • 2013 November 16, Schumpeter, “The mindfulness business”, in The Economist, volume 409, number 8862:
      The constant pinging of electronic devices is driving many people to the end of their tether. Electronic devices not only overload the senses and invade leisure time. They feed on themselves: the more people tweet the more they are rewarded with followers and retweets.
  3. Steady in purpose, action, feeling, etc.
    • (Can we date this quote by Sir Philip Sidney and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      Both loving one fair maid, they yet remained constant friends.
    • (Can we date this quote by William Shakespeare and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      I am constant to my purposes.
    • (Can we date this quote by John Dryden and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      His gifts, his constant courtship, nothing gained.
  4. Firm; solid; not fluid.
    • (Can we date this quote by Robert Boyle and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      If […] you mix them, you may turn these two fluid liquors into a constant body.
  5. (obsolete) Consistent; logical.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Shakespeare, Twelfth Night IV.ii
      I am no more mad than you are: make the trial of it with any constant question.
  6. (computing, complexity theory) Bounded above by a constant.
    constant time   constant space

Translations

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Translations to be checked

Noun

constant (plural constants)

polynomial degrees
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  1. That which is permanent or invariable.
  2. (algebra) A quantity that remains at a fixed value throughout a given discussion.
  3. (sciences) Any property of an experiment, determined numerically, that does not change under given circumstances.
  4. (computing) An identifier that is bound to an invariant value; a fixed value given a name to aid in readability of source code.

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Translations to be checked

See also

Catalan

Pronunciation

Adjective

constant m or f (masculine and feminine plural constants)

  1. constant

Derived terms

Noun

constant f (plural constants)

  1. constant

French

Pronunciation

Adjective

constant (feminine constante, masculine plural constants, feminine plural constantes)

  1. constant

Derived terms

Further reading

Latin

Verb

(deprecated template usage) cōnstant

  1. third-person plural present active indicative of cōnstō
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